Antimicrobial silver coating using PVD-PECVD system

Physical Vapor Deposition - Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PVD-PECVD) systems are used exclusively for deposition and doping of carbonaceous films. However, this technique presents promising characteristics for the deposition of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) on textiles, which meet the industrial demand for a more versatile and efficient methodology than the Magnetron Sputtering (MS) technique. In this regard, cotton textiles were coated with Ag-NP films produced by PVD-PECVD, and compared in terms of technical Physical vapor deposition - plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PVD-PECVD) system has been used exclusively for deposition and doping of carbonaceous films [silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs)] on cotton fabrics and the findings are compared, in terms of technical efficiency and microbial inhibition, with those of the magnetron sputtering (MS) technique. It is found that the proposed technique presents promising characteristics for the deposition of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) on textiles, which meet the industrial demand.efficiency and microbial inhibition, with findings in the literature for the MS technique

Trapaças em avaliações escolares: uma análise estatística do comportamento humano

Cheating in exams is a great educational problem which cause bad effects both for the people than for the country. This behavior is usually inihibited by repression and prophylactic ways, such as punishment and the limitation of the number of items carried during the exams respectively. Thus, this study proposes to identify the behavioral profile of students to assist in the elaboration of appropriate strategies to reduce the frequency of cheating in exams. To perform this study was made a popular research which inquired about the behavior of persons who cheatings during exams, and others who never cheated in any exam. The results highlight the importance of to know who are the students in class to establish a correct teaching-learning process because the acts of cheatings differs significantly between groups of persons with different genres, religious options, level of study, and other elements elucidated in this study.Trapacear em avaliações se revela um problema educacional com efeitos deletérios ao indivíduo e ao país. Os meios para se inibir este comportamento são pouco eficientes e se baseiam apenas em medidas de repressão, como punições, e profiláticas, como limitação do número de itens portados em avaliações. Desse modo, este estudo propõem identificar o perfil comportamental de estudantes que trapaceiam em exames, para auxiliar na elaboração de estratégias adequadas a redução da frequência desta transgressão nas escolas e concursos. Para tanto se realizou uma pesquisa acerca do comportamento de indivíduos que declararam trapacear, ou não trapacear, em exames escolares. Os resultados destacaram que a postura de um indivíduo perante a transgressão em exames, se diferencia significativamente entre os gêneros, posicionamento religioso, nível de estudo entre outros elementos. Os resultados desta pesquisa foram empregados no delineamento do perfil comportamental humano perante ao hábito de ‘colar’, para auxiliar o docente na elaboração de estratégias eficazes para coibir esta transgressão, e suas consequências para a sociedade.Trampas en evaluaciones se revela un problema educativo con efectos deletéreos al individuo y al país. Los medios para inhibir este comportamiento son poco eficientes y se basan sólo en medidas de represión, como castigos, y profilácticas, como limitación del número de artículos portados en evaluaciones. De este modo, este estudio propone identificar el perfil conductual de estudiantes que trampen en exámenes, para auxiliar en la elaboración de estrategias adecuadas para reducir la frecuencia de esta transgresión en las escuelas y concursos. Para ello se realizó una investigación sobre el comportamiento de individuos que declararon engañar, o no engañar, en exámenes escolares. Los resultados destacaron que la postura de un individuo ante la transgresión en exámenes, se diferencia significativamente entre los géneros, posicionamiento religioso, nivel de estudio, entre otros elementos. Los resultados de esta investigación fueron empleados en el delineamiento del perfil comportamental humano ante el hábito de ‘collar’, para auxiliar al docente en la elaboración de estrategias eficaces para cohibir esta transgresión, y sus consecuencias para la sociedad

Macrophages adhesion rate on Ti-6Al-4V substrates: polishing and DLC coating effects

Abstract Introduction Various works have shown that diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings are able to improve the cells adhesion on prosthesis material and also cause protection against the physical wear. On the other hand there are reports about the effect of substrate polishing, in evidence of that roughness can enhance cell adhesion. In order to compare and quantify the joint effects of both factors, i.e, polishing and DLC coating, a commonly prosthesis material, the Ti-6Al-4V alloy, was used as raw material for substrates in our studies of macrophage cell adhesion rate on rough and polished samples, coated and uncoated with DLC. Methods The films were produced by PECVD technique on Ti-6Al-4V substrates and characterized by optical profilometry, scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The amount of cells was measured by particle analysis in IMAGE J software. Cytotoxicity tests were also carried out to infer the biocompatibility of the samples. Results The results showed that higher the surface roughness of the alloy, higher are the cells fixing on the samples surface, moreover group of samples with DLC favored the cell adhesion more than their respective uncoated groups. The cytotoxity tests confirmed that all samples were biocompatible independently of being polished or coated with DLC. Conclusion From the observed results, it was found that the rougher substrate coated with DLC showed a higher cell adhesion than the polished samples, either coated or uncoated with the film. It is concluded that the roughness of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy and the DLC coating act complementary to enhance cell adhesion

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans—anteaters, sloths, and armadillos—have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths. Our data set includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the southern United States, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to the austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n = 5,941), and Cyclopes sp. have the fewest (n = 240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n = 11,588), and the fewest data are recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n = 33). With regard to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n = 962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n = 12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other data sets of Neotropical Series that will become available very soon (i.e., Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans data set. Please cite this data paper when using its data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using these data